Matric 2026 Final Exam Timetable: Every Paper by Date
South Africa's 2026 matric final exams, the National Senior Certificate (NSC), start on Tuesday, Oct. 13 and the last papers are written on Thursday, Nov. 26, the Department of Basic Education's official timetable shows. Morning papers start at 09:00 and afternoon papers at 14:00. The department released the timetable in February, and IOL reported that some practical subjects are assessed outside the main exam window.
Key dates
- Oct. 13: the first papers, Computer Applications Technology P1 Practical at 09:00 and the first language papers at 14:00.
- Oct. 15: English Paper 3 for Home Language, First Additional Language and Second Additional Language at 09:00.
- Oct. 23 and 26: Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy and Technical Mathematics Paper 1, then Paper 2.
- Oct. 28: English Paper 1. Nov. 19: English Paper 2.
- Oct. 30 and Nov. 2: Physical Sciences Physics, then Chemistry.
- Nov. 3, 4, 5 and 9 are non-examination days.
- Nov. 13 and 16: Life Sciences Paper 1, then Paper 2.
- Nov. 26: the Computer Applications Technology and Information Technology practical rewrites close the timetable. The last scheduled written paper is Music Paper 2 on Nov. 25.
Matric exam dates by subject
| Subject | Paper, date and start time |
|---|---|
| English Home Language | P1: Wed 28 Oct, 09:00 P2: Thu 19 Nov, 09:00 P3: Thu 15 Oct, 09:00 |
| English First Additional Language | P1: Wed 28 Oct, 09:00 P2: Thu 19 Nov, 09:00 P3: Thu 15 Oct, 09:00 |
| Afrikaans HL and FAL | P1: Wed 11 Nov, 09:00 P2: Fri 20 Nov, 09:00 P3: Tue 20 Oct, 09:00 |
| isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele | P1: Fri 6 Nov, 09:00 P2: Tue 10 Nov, 09:00 P3: Mon 19 Oct, 09:00 |
| Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda | P1: Tue 27 Oct, 09:00 P2: Tue 17 Nov, 09:00 P3: Wed 21 Oct, 09:00 |
| Mathematics | P1: Fri 23 Oct, 09:00 P2: Mon 26 Oct, 09:00 |
| Mathematical Literacy | P1: Fri 23 Oct, 09:00 P2: Mon 26 Oct, 09:00 |
| Physical Sciences | P1 Physics: Fri 30 Oct, 09:00 P2 Chemistry: Mon 2 Nov, 09:00 |
| Life Sciences | P1: Fri 13 Nov, 09:00 P2: Mon 16 Nov, 09:00 |
| Geography | P1: Thu 29 Oct, 09:00 P2: Thu 12 Nov, 09:00 |
| History | P1: Tue 20 Oct, 14:00 P2: Thu 19 Nov, 14:00 |
| Accounting | P1: Thu 22 Oct, 09:00 P2: Wed 28 Oct, 14:00 |
| Business Studies | P1: Wed 11 Nov, 14:00 P2: Wed 18 Nov, 09:00 |
| Economics | P1: Fri 16 Oct, 09:00 P2: Fri 20 Nov, 14:00 |
| Computer Applications Technology | P1 Practical: Tue 13 Oct, 09:00 P2 Theory: Thu 29 Oct, 14:00 |
| Information Technology | P1 Practical: Wed 14 Oct, 09:00 P2 Theory: Wed 21 Oct, 14:00 |
| Tourism | Single paper: Fri 30 Oct, 14:00 |
| Consumer Studies | Single paper: Fri 6 Nov, 14:00 |
| Hospitality Studies | Single paper: Fri 6 Nov, 14:00 |
| Religion Studies | P1: Mon 2 Nov, 14:00 P2: Thu 12 Nov, 14:00 |
| Agricultural Sciences | P1: Mon 19 Oct, 14:00 P2: Tue 17 Nov, 14:00 |
| Engineering Graphics and Design | P1: Thu 22 Oct, 14:00 P2: Tue 27 Oct, 14:00 |
| Technical Mathematics | P1: Fri 23 Oct, 09:00 P2: Mon 26 Oct, 09:00 |
| Technical Sciences | P1: Fri 30 Oct, 09:00 P2: Mon 2 Nov, 09:00 |
| Dramatic Arts | Single paper: Mon 16 Nov, 14:00 |
| Visual Arts | P1: Wed 18 Nov, 14:00 |
| Music | P1 Theory: Mon 23 Nov, 14:00 P2 Comprehension: Wed 25 Nov, 09:00 |
Start times are South African Standard Time. Subjects not shown, including the other languages and technical subjects, are in the full timetable below. Check the printed timetable your school gave you for your own subject choices.
Full matric timetable, day by day
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 13 Oct | Computer Applications Technology P1 Practical (3 hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL P1, FAL P1 and SAL P1 (2 hrs each) Hebrew SAL P1 (2 hrs) German HL, FAL and SAL P1 (2 hrs each) |
| Wed 14 Oct | Information Technology P1 Practical (3 hrs) | Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian and Spanish SAL P1 (2 hrs) Latin SAL P1 (3 hrs) Portuguese HL, FAL and SAL P1 (2 hrs each) |
| Thu 15 Oct | English HL P3 (3 hrs) English FAL P3 (2.5 hrs) English SAL P3 (2.5 hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL P2 (2.5 hrs), FAL P2 (2 hrs), SAL P2 (2 hrs) Hebrew SAL P2 (2 hrs) German HL P2 (2.5 hrs), FAL P2 (2 hrs), SAL P2 (2 hrs) |
| Fri 16 Oct | Economics P1 (2 hrs) Mechanical Technology (3 hrs) | Design P1 (3 hrs) |
| Mon 19 Oct | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P3 (3 hrs), FAL P3 (2.5 hrs), SAL P3 (2.5 hrs) | Agricultural Sciences P1 (2.5 hrs) |
| Tue 20 Oct | Afrikaans HL P3 (3 hrs) Afrikaans FAL P3 (2.5 hrs) Afrikaans SAL P3 (2.5 hrs) | History P1 (3 hrs) Maritime Economics (3 hrs) |
| Wed 21 Oct | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P3 (3 hrs), FAL P3 (2.5 hrs), SAL P3 (2.5 hrs) South African Sign Language HL P3 (3 hrs) | Information Technology P2 Theory (3 hrs) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Accounting P1 (2 hrs) | Engineering Graphics and Design P1 (3 hrs) Marine Sciences P1 (2.5 hrs) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Mathematics P1 (3 hrs) Mathematical Literacy P1 (3 hrs) Technical Mathematics P1 (3 hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL P3 and FAL P3 (2.5 hrs each) Portuguese and German HL P3 (2.5 hrs) Portuguese and German FAL P3 (2.5 hrs) |
| Mon 26 Oct | Mathematics P2 (3 hrs) Mathematical Literacy P2 (3 hrs) Technical Mathematics P2 (3 hrs) | Sport and Exercise Science (3 hrs) |
| Tue 27 Oct | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P1, FAL P1 and SAL P1 (2 hrs each) South African Sign Language HL P1 (2 hrs) | Engineering Graphics and Design P2 (3 hrs) |
| Wed 28 Oct | English HL P1 (2 hrs) English FAL P1 (2 hrs) English SAL P1 (2 hrs) | Accounting P2 (2 hrs) |
| Thu 29 Oct | Geography P1: Climate and Weather, Geomorphology and Map Work (3 hrs) | Computer Applications Technology P2 Theory (3 hrs) |
| Fri 30 Oct | Physical Sciences P1: Physics (3 hrs) Technical Sciences P1 (3 hrs) | Tourism (3 hrs) |
| Mon 2 Nov | Physical Sciences P2: Chemistry (3 hrs) Technical Sciences P2 (1.5 hrs) | Religion Studies P1 (2 hrs) |
| Tue 3 Nov | Non-examination day | |
| Wed 4 Nov | Non-examination day | |
| Thu 5 Nov | Non-examination day | |
| Fri 6 Nov | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P1, FAL P1 and SAL P1 (2 hrs each) | Consumer Studies (3 hrs) Hospitality Studies (3 hrs) |
| Mon 9 Nov | Non-examination day | |
| Tue 10 Nov | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P2 (2.5 hrs), FAL P2 (2.5 hrs), SAL P2 (1.5 hrs) | Electrical Technology (3 hrs) Nautical Science P1 (3 hrs) |
| Wed 11 Nov | Afrikaans HL P1 (2 hrs) Afrikaans FAL P1 (2 hrs) Afrikaans SAL P1 (2 hrs) | Business Studies P1 (2 hrs) |
| Thu 12 Nov | Geography P2: Rural and Urban Settlements, Economic Geography of SA and Map Work (3 hrs) | Religion Studies P2 (2 hrs) |
| Fri 13 Nov | Life Sciences P1 (2.5 hrs) | Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian and Spanish SAL P2 (2 hrs) Latin SAL P2 (2 hrs) Portuguese HL P2 (2.5 hrs), FAL P2 and SAL P2 (2 hrs each) Equine Studies (3 hrs) |
| Mon 16 Nov | Life Sciences P2 (2.5 hrs) | Dramatic Arts (3 hrs) Civil Technology (3 hrs) |
| Tue 17 Nov | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P2 (2.5 hrs), FAL P2 (2.5 hrs), SAL P2 (1.5 hrs) South African Sign Language HL P2 (2.5 hrs) | Agricultural Sciences P2 (2.5 hrs) Nautical Science P2 (3 hrs) |
| Wed 18 Nov | Business Studies P2 (2 hrs) | Visual Arts P1 (3 hrs) |
| Thu 19 Nov | English HL P2 (2.5 hrs) English FAL P2 (2.5 hrs) English SAL P2 (1.5 hrs) | History P2 (3 hrs) |
| Fri 20 Nov | Afrikaans HL P2 (2.5 hrs) Afrikaans FAL P2 (2.5 hrs) Afrikaans SAL P2 (1.5 hrs) | Economics P2 (2 hrs) |
| Mon 23 Nov | Agricultural Technology (3 hrs) | Music P1 Theory (3 hrs) |
| Tue 24 Nov | Agricultural Management Practices (3 hrs) Marine Sciences P2 (2.5 hrs) | Dance Studies (3 hrs) |
| Wed 25 Nov | Music P2 Comprehension (1.5 hrs) | – |
| Thu 26 Nov | Computer Applications Technology P1 Rewrite Practical (3 hrs) Information Technology P1 Rewrite Practical (3 hrs) | – |
The abbreviations are HL for Home Language, FAL for First Additional Language, SAL for Second Additional Language and P for paper. Durations are as the department lists them.
Before the main exams
- Life Orientation (LO CAT): Sept. 1, with a rewrite on Oct. 12.
- Performing Arts practical: Aug. 3 to Oct. 9.
- Visual Arts and Design practical: Sept. 14 to Oct. 13.
- Pledge signing: Friday, Oct. 9.
Independent schools that write the IEB exams follow a separate timetable, published on the IEB website.
Dates and times are from the Department of Basic Education's October/November 2026 NSC timetable, dated February 2026. Check your school or provincial education department for late changes.
